Whether you reside in North America, the Global South, or consider yourself a climate or environment activist, you may not be familiar with the Adults’ People and Nature Survey (APNS). The recent approval of the massive Rosebank oilfield in the North Sea by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, coupled with a shift away from the UK’s NetZero goals, warrants your attention and a closer look at this survey before you voice your concerns with #StopRoseBank.
Is the ‘Adults’ People and Nature Survey’ Rishi Sunak’s compass for decision-making or merely a reflection of his sentiments in backpedaling on NetZero targets?
Hears the thing. Public opinion is a powerful driver in modern politics, and politicians who ignore it risk losing touch with their constituents. Let’s take a moment to revisit August 2021, the lead-up to COP26, when the Global Brent Crude oil price hovered around $70.59 per barrel.
During this period, the UK Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH) for August 2021 reached 3.0%, double the current annual average of 6.3%.
Concurrently, the IPCC released its August 2021 report, warning that global warming could escalate to 1.5°C within decades. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson responded to this report with ‘sobering reading,’ after reading the report. Subsequently unveiling a ten-point plan under the ‘NetZero Strategy: Build Back Greener‘ to achieve NetZero emissions by 2030.
But that’s not the entire picture. During the Summer/Autumn of 2021, the ‘Adults’ People and Nature Survey‘ indicated that ‘Environmental/climate change’ concerns were at their peak among respondents, while ‘Rising prices/inflation/cost of living’ ranked lower in terms of public concerns compared to the environment/climate change.
In prosperous times, society often craves extravagant spending, but in challenging times, it clamors for a return to fiscal prudence. Consider Autumn 2021 when the monthly global Brent crude oil price average around $79.83 per barrel. The UK government was heavily investing in green initiatives and striving to meet its NetZero goals by 2030.
Today, the most recent People and Nature Survey for England reveals that citizens are significantly less concerned about ‘Environmental/climate change’ compared to other pressing issues, including:
- Health/NHS/Coronavirus
- Economy
- Rising prices/inflation/cost of living
- Immigration
Remarkably, immigration concerns have surpassed climate change concerns in public sentiment.
Instead of solely attributing the back pedaling of NetZero targets to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, we should consider whether the online discourse regarding the approval of the Rosebank oilfield reflects the people’s desire for the Prime Minister to address rising inflationary pressures on consumers. Perhaps this sentiment underscores a preference for investing in the welfare of citizens due to their concerns (semi-plebiscite or referendum).
It’s noteworthy, and worth emphasizing, that among G7 nations, the United Kingdom is running only one coal-powered plant, while others like France have decided to extend the retirement of their coal-fired plants until 2024, and numerous other G7 nations have more than double digits of coal-fired plants in operation. Between 1990 and 2021, the United Kingdom has successfully reduced its emissions by 48%, demonstrating its commitment to decarbonization at a remarkable pace when compared to other G7 nations.
The dilemma we face is challenging, but if we genuinely aim to reorient the UK population’s focus towards climate change and the environment while urging the Prime Minister to take further action on NetZero goals, we must first redirect our attention to this significant sentiment indicator—the Adults’ People and Nature Survey (ANPS). A well-structured campaign should prioritize supporting struggling UK citizens who can barely afford basic necessities and lack access to resources (grants & donations) for their daily commutes (bus or tube) to work or to pick-up their child(ren) from school.
What is the Adults’ People and Nature Survey (APN-Survey)?
The Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE) survey forms the foundation of the People and Nature Survey for England. It employs an online panel technique to collect data from adults (16+) regarding their sentiments towards the natural environment, how they access and understand it, and how they express their thoughts about it. For more information, please refer to the survey link: APN-Survey Link
